Unit 5Theme, Tone, and Mood

Name: __________________________ELA Section: ______

NotesWhat is theme?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Four steps of identifying theme:Step 1: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Step 2: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Step 3: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Step 4: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Definition of Tone:_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Definition of Mood:_______________________________________________________________________

2

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3

“The Raven”by Edgar Allan Poe

1. What is the tone of “The Raven”?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What words does Poe use to create the tone?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. What is the mood of “The Raven”?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. How does Poe create this mood?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4

“The Speckled Band”Vocabulary Activity

Penniless Hubert was facing impending financial ruin. Rich Uncle Winston had often made an allusion to leaving Hubert money. Therefore, Hubert always acted in compliance with Uncle Winston’s wishes. In his will, however, Uncle Winston bequeathed Hubert less than the expected amount. With so little money, how could the impoverished man ever defray, or pay his expenses? The singular thing about the will, however, was that it required the other heirs to use their shares to support Hubert. This unusual requirement dispelled all Hubert’s fears. At once his mood went from morose to cheerful.

bequeathed impending dispelled singularallusion defray compliance morose

1. ____________________________ unusual, extraordinary

2. ____________________________ driven away or scattered

3. ____________________________ soon to happen, coming

4. ____________________________ left or gave to someone, as in a will

5. ____________________________ to pay

6. ____________________________ yielding to another’s wishes

7. ____________________________ mention of or reference to

something

8. ____________________________ gloomy, ill-humored

5

“The Speckled Band”by Arthur Conan Doyle

1. Which characters are dynamic? Which characters are static?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What does Holmes’s statement that Miss Stoner came to London by train reveal about him?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. What financial arrangements did Helen Stoner’s mother maker for her daughters in case she died before they did?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Which events leading up to Julia’s death are important clues to the mystery?_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. What can you infer from the fact that the events prior to Julia’s death are now being repeated in Helen’s life?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6

6. What does Holmes apparently suspect is happening?_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. Why is it significant that the doors were locked and the shutters were secure?_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. What important details does Holmes notice about the bell-rope and the ventilator, besides the fact that they do not work?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. How do you know the saucer of milk in Roylott’s room is a clue?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10. The fact that the bed is bolted to the floor helps Watson see the solution to the mystery. What answer does that information suggest?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

11. What killed Julia?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“The Murders in the Rue Morgue”7

by Edgar Allan Poe1. How is C. Auguste Dupin different than ordinary people?_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. In what way is “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” narrated? Why is this significant?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. What is peculiar about the murders in the story?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Who/what was the murderer and why did he commit such a deed? Explain.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Explain why this story belongs to the mystery genre.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street”8

Vocabulary You Should Know

antagonism – hostility; unfriendlinessassent – expression of approval or agreementcontorted – twisted or pulled out of shapeconverging – coming together from different directions so as to meetdefiant – willing to stand up to opposition; go against; bolddissent – hold or express opinions that are commonly expressedflustered – nervous or confused; anxiousidiosyncrasy – a personal way of acting; odd mannerismincriminate – to cause to appear guiltyinsomnia – habitual sleeplessness; inability to sleepintense – showing great concentration or determinationlegitimate – in accordance with accepted practices; reasonablemetamorphosis – the process of transformation from one thing to a

completely different onemob – a crowd of people that is disorderly and intent on causing

trouble or violenceoptimistic – hopeful about the future; confidentpan – swing in a horizontal or vertical plane; to give a panoramic effect

or follow a subjectpersistent – refusing to give up; continuing stubbornlyrevelation – a surprising and previously unknown factscapegoat – a person/group that is made to bear blame for otherstransfixed – to become motionless with horror, wonder, or

astonishment

9

“The Twilight Zone: The Monsters are Due on Maple Street”by Rod Serling

1. How can fear control you?

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

2. How do dire situations cause people to act out of character?

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Do you believe that psychological warfare is more dangerous than conventional weapons? Explain your answer.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

4. What is one overall theme of “The Monsters are Due on Maple Street?” How did you come to this conclusion?

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

10

“Sorry, Wrong Number”by Lucille Fletcher

1. Why was “Sorry, Wrong Number” such a popular radio play? Cite textual examples from the text to support your response.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Why is the setting of this drama so important?__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

3. What is the conflict that Mrs. Stevenson experiences? Is this conflict INTERNAL or EXTERNAL?

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

4. What does Mrs. Stevenson do to resolve her conflict? Do these actions successfully resolve her conflict? Explain your answer.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

11

5. In 2-3 sentences, describe Mrs. Stevenson’s personality. Draw conclusions based on the descriptions in the text, her actions, and her words. You need to cite specific examples from the text to support your answer.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Think of scenes from movies or other plays where the silent end of the telephone is used to create tension. Does it work in the same way here?

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

7. Go back in the play and find an example of foreshadowing that the author used. Explain how it is an example of foreshadowing.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

12

“The Lady or the Tiger”Vocabulary You Should Know

1. progressiveness – the state of making progress or improvement 2. florid – excessive or showy 3. untrammeled – unrestricted in action or thought 4. exuberant fancy – overflowing with decoration or style 5. self-communing – to communicate with one’s self 6. bland – lacking in flavor; uninteresting 7. genial – warm, pleasant, or cheerful 8. barbarism – absence of civilization; extreme cruelty or brutality9. semified – made partial; reduced by half10.valor – bravery or boldness11.refined – having or showing well-bred taste 12.cultured – showing intelligence or good taste 13.rhapsodies – an enthusiastic expression of feeling in music 14.inevitable – unable to avoid or escape 15.amphitheater – an arena; stadium 16.vaults – an arched structure that creates a roof 17.poetic justice – an outcome in which people get fitting punishment or reward for their

actions 18.virtue – behavior showing high moral standards 19.decree – an order enforced by the law 20.impartial – fair or just 21.incorruptible – unable to be corrupted 22.sufficient – adequate23.emanated – to spread out from 24.barleycorn – grain of barley; formerly used as a form of measurement (“every inch a

king”) 25.allegiance – loyalty to a particular cause or allegiance 26.ingrafted – established; firmly planted27.idealism – unrealistically pursuing perfection28.procured – to obtain something 29.doleful – causing grief or misfortune 30.wended – to wander31.dire – extremely serious; dangerous 32.retribution – punishment given to an individual in response to a wrongful or criminal

act 33.epithalamic – a song or poem in honor of a bride or groom34.tribunal - a court of justice 35.imperious – having the unpleasant characteristics of one who always gives orders with

the expectation that they will be instantly obeyed36.courtiers – members of the royal court37.ardor – passion38.aesthetic – concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty39.personage – a person (often used to discuss their importance or status) 40.moiety – a part or portion41.fervid – having very strong feelings42.devious – longer and less direct (route or journey) than the most straightforward way43.grievous reveries – serious or severe thoughts44.gnashed – to strike or grind45.futurity – the quality of being in the future

13

“The Lady or the Tiger?”by Frank Stockton

1. How does the author show that the king is semi-barbaric? With support from the text, explain in one sentence how he is barbaric, and in another sentence, how he is civilized/progressive.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Drawing on the text, describe the king’s method of administering justice within the arena.

____________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

3. What characteristics does the king’s daughter share with her father?___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

14

___________________________________________________________________________________

4. Describe the princess’s passion for her lover. What role does her barbarism play?

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

5. According to the story, “No matter how the affairs turned out, the youth would be disposed of.” What does this mean? Would justice have been administered fairly? Why or why not?

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

6. Why do you think the young man trusts the princess to save his life? Drawing from the text, explain how he knows that she will guide him to choose the right door.

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

15

____________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

Connotation and Denotation Practice1. What is the general meaning of each of the three sentences about Annette?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2. Do the words surprised, amazed, and astonished have approximately the same

denotation?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________3. What additional meanings are suggested by astonish?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________4. Would one be more likely to be surprised or astonished at seeing a ghost?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________5. Which word in each pair of words has the more favorable connotation to you?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________6. What does the word cockroach mean to you?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________7. Which of the denotative characteristics of a cockroach do both poets include in the

poems?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________8. What characters does Wild give his cockroaches that are not in the dictionary

definition?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________9. What additional characteristics does Morley give to cockroaches?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________10.Which poets succeeds in giving cockroaches favorable connotations?__________________________________________________________________________________________

16

__________________________________________________________________________________________11.Which poet comes closer to expressing your own feelings about cockroaches?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Roaches” by Peter WildLast night when I got upto let the dog out I spieda cockroach in the bathroomcrouched flat on the coolporcelain,delicateantennae probing the toothpaste capand feasting himself on a gobof it in the bowl:I killed him with one unprofessional blow,scattering arms and legsand half his body in the sink...I would have no truck with roaches,crouched like lions in the ledges of sewerstheir black eyes in the darknessalert for tasty slime,

breeding quickly and without design,laboring up drainpipes through filthto the light; I read once they are amongthe most antediluvian of creatures,surviving everything, and in more primitive timesthrived to the size of your hand... yet when sinking asleepor craning at the stars,I can feel their light feetprobing in my veins,their whiskers nibblingthe insides of my toes;and neck arched,feel their patient scramblingup the dark tubes of my throat.

from Nursery Rhymes for the Tender-hearted by Christopher MorleyScuttle, scuttle, little roach-

How you run when I approach:Up above the pantry shelf

Hastening to secrete yourself.Most adventurous of vermin,How I wish I could determine

How you spend your hours of ease,Perhaps reclining on the cheese.Cook has gone, and all is dark-Then the kitchen is your park;

In the garbage heap that she leavesDo you browse among the tea leaves?

How delightful to suspect

Does your long antenna whisk its Gentle tip across the biscuits?

Do you linger, little soul, Drowsing in our sugar bowl?Or, abandonment most utter,

Shake a shimmy on the butter?Do you chant your simple tunesSwimming in the baby's prunes?

Then, when dawn comes, do you slinkHomeward to the kitchen sink?

Timid roach, why be so shy?We are brothers, thou and I, In the midnight, like yourself,

17

All the places you have trekked: I explore the pantry shelf!

18